A World Above Earth

November 17, 1998|By JIM KUYKENDALL; The Hartford Courant

Science fiction becomes reality when construction begins on the International Space Station Friday. The United States and 15 other nations will work to build this in-space lab. The project, expected to take at least five years, begins with the launch in Russia of the Zarya control module, which will provide power for the station. Once completed, the station will allow for long-term experiments on the effects of outer space on people and materials, possibly helping in future space exploration.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Wingspan (end to end width): 356.4 feet, about the length of a football field including the end zones.